Kuala Lumpur: A Mélange of Beautiful Cultures

Kuala Lumpur, popularly called as KL and dubbed as Asia’s “Green Capital” and “Asia’s Cybercity,” is the capital of Malaysia. The mixed influences of Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures are palpable everywhere you go. It is a mélange that is reflected in its infrastructures and culture. Old colonial buildings dating from the 1890s still stand and there is a profusion of religious landmarks – Buddhist temples, mosques and Hindu Shrines. Along with these are modern edifices dominating the skyline and the landscape – towering skyscrapers, expansive shopping malls and luxurious hotels. The mélange is felt even in streets – in its people’s tongues (languages) and flavors (cuisines).

“By design or lack of populace, Kuala Lumpur is Asia’s green capital, where monkeys scamper close to skyscrapers and the occasional boa constrictor slithers across six-lane traffic. Centered around a colonial inheritance of ordered landscaping and dominated by palm-lined freeways, K.L. offers room to breathe and to contemplate the meeting of cultures…”

“Kuala Lumpur’s evolution … is testimony to man’s power over nature, but … the city from the heights of Menara KL … nature is all around. In fact Kuala Lumpur is one of the greenest cities in Southeast Asia boasting beautiful parks, inner city walkways…”

“In its rush to modernise, KL has seen many of its beautiful buildings demolished, but this green city still has an impressive number of colonial-era buildings … in the most … colourful quarters, such as Chinatown, Little India and Kampung Baru; the bustling centres of KL’s Chinese, Malay and Indian communities.”

KL is not all about shopping. It offers tourists the Batu Cave that is home many bats. It also boasts of the world’s largest free-flight, walk-in and interactive aviary, the KL Bird Park, which is home to over 3,000 birds. Then there is the Butterfly Park with some 6,000 butterflies fluttering around. At the heart of the Green City is the Lake Gardens, a verdant spot that pumps oxygen into the city and home to Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park.

Delectable Diversions

When it comes to food and cheap eating out, no other Asian city can compare to KL. More than the price, it is the variety, the flavors and the culture that makes eating here an experience. Malaysian cuisine reflects the ethnic fusion of the hybrid local population – Malay, Chinese and Indian.

To make and connect with makan kaki (food friends) and the locals, you need to dive into the gastronomic melting pot of the city, in the streets and high-end restaurants throughout the city. Chinatown and Masjid India are exotic food centers you shouldn’t miss and Baba –Nyonya or Peranakan cooking are a must try.

Foods sold in the streets of Kuala Lumpur are among the best in the world, but there are restaurants that are must try too. For a quick guide, you can tick one by one the items in the list suggested by The Culture Trip in this post A Taste of Malaysia: The 10 Best Restaurants in Kuala Lumpur ranging from “the best brunch options in KL, and to the best Nyonya restaurants throughout the country.”

Feeding Your Eyes and Soul

The most visited iconic landmarks in Kuala Lumpur have made the city a popular destination for this world travelers. There are many attractions that can lure visitors looking for natural and modern features that define this city’s unmistakable charm.

The Lonely Planet features some of these must see and visit attractions in the page Sights in Kuala Lumpur, which includes the following:

Architecture:

Petronas Towers

Old KL Train Station

Stadium Merdeka

Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman

Cultural/Museums and Galleries

Royal Museum

National Visual Arts Gallery

National Museum

National Textiles Museum

Religious/Temples

Sin Sze Si Yan Temple

Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple

St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral

Natural/ LakesRivers and Waterfalls: Lake Titiwangsa

Neighborhood/Villages: Kampung Baru

Other Attractions

On a 24-hr visit, you don’t need to go far. The Golden Triangle is the place to be. This is also the destination for those who want modern conveniences (malls and restaurants). The area is hemmed in by a cluster of major shopping malls and top eating and entertainment places – Jln Bukit Bintang, Jln Raja Chulan and Jln Sultan Ismail. For foodies, Jin Alor is a food paradise. East of KLCC are Jln Ampang and Jln Tun Razak, while south of Bukit Bintang is Pudu, the Chinese district where the largest wholesale clothing market and wet market are located.

Aside from those already mentioned, the other iconic landmarks in Kuala Lumpur you would want to visit are:

Menara KL Tower, Jalan P.Ramlee

Chinatown, Jalan Petaling

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, Petaling Jaya

Aquaria KLCC

Jalan Alor Bukit Bintang

Central Market Chinatown

With all these gastronomic, natural and modern attractions, it is not surprising why it is a destination for over 25 million international tourists. Its booming economy makes it a convenient destination, even for multigenerational travelers. What is so amazing is how you can find luxury accommodations here for a small price tag, a sure winner for backpackers. If you say, “I “heart” Kuala Lumpur!”… everyone who’s been here will understand.

Please follow and like us:

0

Comments

About Us

Barbara Walsh-Kumm and John Kumm have established this website in order to provide the avid visitor with current hints and tips, news and opinions relating in general to travel, and more particularly to overseas trips, vacations and holiday adventures.